Growing up in a relatively sheltered community in the South, it took me over 20 years to recognize and come to terms with my queer identity. My story is all too common, and being a part of an organization that values, respects, and actively supports our community has been refreshing. When I joined Itential, I was so excited to see a dedicated group, ItentiaLGBTQ+, and knew I wanted to get involved.
At Itential, we believe that fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace is key to driving innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to this belief is embodied in ItentiaLGBTQ+, part of our ItentiaLife program, focused on creating an environment where every individual feels seen, heard, and respected, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
Through advocacy, education, and allyship, our goal is to build and foster an inclusive and empowering environment. I’m proud to be one of two co-leads for ItentiaLGBTQ+, and the group’s impact has been validating and exciting to see in action.
What ItentiaLGBTQ+ & Allyship Means for Us
I attribute a large portion of the reasons for my common experience to a lack of education and resources, as well as internalized homophobia in myself and my community. Once leaving home, I was able to meet and learn from individuals whose gender and sexual identities truly spanned the rainbow.
It’s been a journey of continuous effort and self-reflection to not only learn more about where I fall under the queer umbrella, but also how to best support my fellow LGBTQ+ community. Change doesn’t happen overnight and there is always more to learn. The important thing is growth. Ultimately, supporting our LGBTQ+ community is rooted in respect and openness.
Having come on as a co-lead for ItentiaLGBTQ+, I hope to cultivate these qualities further through our group’s initiatives centered around advocacy, education, and allyship.
I’d also like to share a short story from my co-lead that may resonate:
“All my life, I have struggled with sexual and gender identity, an experience shared by many. While it has been encouraging to see how far we’ve come in the past couple of decades, we still have a long way to go.
Before coming to Itential, I worked at a company that not only saw LGBTQ+ issues as a joke, but actively disparaged, spread rumors about, and held back employees who identified as LGBTQ+. It was incredibly discouraging to see how much ignorance still exists in this world, and coming to Itential and having the opportunity to build a community that celebrates LGBTQ+ folks has been an incredible and healing experience.
ItentiaLGBTQ+ has been more than just a small community within Itential, it has helped us feel more comfortable and welcome in a world where we can still sometimes feel like ‘others.’”
– Jared O’Brien, Founder & Co-Lead
Our Mission: What ItentiaLGBTQ+ Means for Everyone
ItentiaLGBTQ+ is dedicated to fostering a workplace culture where every individual, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, feels seen, heard, and respected. Through advocacy, education, and allyship, we endeavor to create an inclusive environment that empowers LGBTQ+ Itentialites to bring their authentic selves to work, driving innovation, collaboration, and belonging for all.
Here’s a closer look at our mission, background, and efforts in advocacy, education, and allyship:
Advocacy: Championing LGBTQ+ Rights
Advocacy is at the heart of ItentiaLGBTQ+. We strive to be vocal champions for the rights and dignity of our LGBTQ+ colleagues, ensuring our policies are inclusive, equitable, and supportive. By advocating for policies that protect and empower LGBTQ+ employees, we create a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Our commitment extends beyond our organization, supporting broader efforts to advance LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in society.
Education: Bridging Information Gaps
Misinformation and information gaps about queerness are prevalent and affect all areas of our lives. Queerness is often a hidden identity, and not everyone is comfortable sharing it openly. This has been a consistent challenge throughout history.
As a part of Pride Month this year, we are focusing on highlighting important queer figures in the tech world to increase education. For example, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, was also the first queer woman to do so. However, Ride chose to hide her queer identity, revealing it only after her death in 2012. Her decision underscores the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, especially in traditionally straight, male-dominated fields like STEM.
Allyship: Standing Together
Allyship goes beyond support; it’s about actively standing with our LGBTQ+ colleagues. ItentiaLGBTQ+ encourages all Itentialites to become allies, advocating for and supporting their peers. By cultivating a strong network of allies, we ensure that everyone at Itential feels empowered and valued.
We host collaborative events with other resource groups, such as our recent Painting with Pride event with the ItentiaLadies. This event brought the paint-and-sip experience into the office, providing supplies to encourage creative expression and foster community. We also have an upcoming office-wide potluck where our lovely Itentialites bring in their own dish to create a colorful rainbow of options.
Building a Community of Belonging
At Itential, we’re proud to stand with our LGBTQ+ colleagues and commit to fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected. Our ultimate goal is to build a community where every individual feels they belong, whatever that looks like.
Join us in our mission to drive innovation, collaboration, and belonging for all. Together, we can create a brighter, more inclusive future.
Tags: Itentialife
Allie Juback
Human Resources Admin ‐ Itential
Allie Juback holds a dual Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development and Public Policy from Vanderbilt University. She joined Itential as an intern on the Human Resources team in February 2023 and has since come on full-time as our Human Resources Admin / Office Manager. Allie additionally took on the role of co-lead for our ItentiaLGBTQ+ resource group and is passionate about educating and uplifting members of her community. Outside of work, she is an adoring mother to two cats and enjoys crafting and reading.
